Insurance woes anybody have any suggestions???

[scooter01922]

Hey all question for you. My converted 1989 MCI 96A3 was previously insured with progressive. I recall it being quite the pain of the butt to find insurance in Massachusetts in the first place. A few months back progressive sent me a letter saying they are no longer covering any converted buses of any kind and they would no longer be providing me with the policy. Bus wasn't really slated to go anywhere so I wasn't too worried and figured I'd find something. Well it seems my only option from calling around is national general insurance. However after getting a quote and sending them pictures of the bus as requested I just heard back that they will not cover any converted transit buses only school buses. Frankly I'm a wee bit pissed off currently that we have to have insurance ( I would even if it wasn't legally managed in MA) but then somehow it's okay for nobody to provide it for vehicles that have been quite legal all along and are legally titled as RVs. Don't even get me started on how well transit buses and schoolies are built compared to a traditional RV. So do any of you have any valid options for insuring a converted MCI these days or am I as screwed as it seems?

Pic included because I just love big blue

[freds]

Call them back and argue that it's not a transit bus but a charter/intera-city, over the road bus, etc?

A transit bus would have another door mid chassis, etc...

[scooter01922]

The guy was pretty adamant that they only covered converted school buses. Why that's important 

[luvrbus]

Try State Farm they usually do it with photos, Progressive will do it if go through a agent, here in Az Progressive is asking for a commercial policy the price is not that bad for a commercial policy. Insurance Co's are getting a little gun shy on writing a full coverage policy on a bus conversion they been burnt to many times in the past with bogus claims 

[Runcutter]

I agree with Fred.  That is not a transit bus.  It's an over-the-road coach (converted if that's true).  Entirely different creatures. 

In your area, a quick call to Jim Michaud at Michaud Bus Sales in Brentwood NH (603-629-2800) may get you input into local insurance agents/companies that can help.

Arthur

[luvrbus]

Commuter buses are classified as a transit bus by some insurance policy writers that MCI has the transit bumpers I can tell you they don't install transit bumpers on a bus just for looks ,because those bumpers are ugly IMO 

[thomasinnv]

I went through the very same problem about 6 months ago. Was with progressive for years and I got the letter. I called around and ended up going with state farm. They will provide full coverage with pictures, but no full timers insurance.

[scooter01922]

Try State Farm they usually do it with photos, Progressive will do it if go through a agent, here in Az Progressive is asking for a commercial policy the price is not that bad for a commercial policy. Insurance Co's are getting a little gun shy on writing a full coverage policy on a bus conversion they been burnt to many times in the past with bogus claims

I talked to state farm, no dice. My progressive policy was through an agent and even then was liability only.

[scooter01922]

I agree with Fred.  That is not a transit bus.  It's an over-the-road coach (converted if that's true).  Entirely different creatures. 

In your area, a quick call to Jim Michaud at Michaud Bus Sales in Brentwood NH (603-629-2800) may get you input into local insurance agents/companies that can help.

Arthur

I agree totally different creatures, but underwriting says what they say and arguing anything otherwise didn't sway them. It's a fully converted, legally titled as an RV deal so I'm not sure what their problem is. Was only looking for liability as NOBODY would offer anything more than that in the lovely state of Massachusetts the last time  I was searching.

[thomasinnv]

I talked to state farm, no dice. My progressive policy was through an agent and even then was liability only.

You might try another State Farm agent. The first agent I talked to said no they don't do bus conversions, but another agent in the same office got it done. I think she had to use a different computer system or something. National General will do it but they were about the same price for liability as what I ended up paying for full coverage. National General is owned by allstate.

[David Anderson]

I went through the same stuff 6 months ago. I got full coverage through progressive through FMCA membership. (Now Family RV Association).

They may not renew at the one year anniversary next year. Oh boy 👦

David

[scooter01922]

Have talked to progressive though several agents and direct. "Converted busses of any kind present too much additional risk to insure" Amica tells me the same, unless I can prove it was converted by a company specifically doing bus conversions. I don't know how this hasn't become a real issue if companies will only cover professional conversions.

[luvrbus]

Laws are different from state to when Van moved from Neveda here to AZ he had been with Progressive for years ,they would not insure his Prevost here,my State Farm agent had no problem it was $200.00 less with more coverage Van loved the $19.00 a year towing price he dropped his Coachnet lol next he went for the AZ plates for $55.00 for 5 years he didn't believe me on the price on that one     

[David Anderson]

This is an old thread.
So Scooter, what did you finally do about insurance?

[scooter01922]

Per my post from earlier today its been a very frustrating road. Calling places on and off for the last several months has yielded NO good results. Good thing I don't have any trips planned. Did just get a quote this afternoon, a place that WILL cover it, but liability only and then only if they cover all my other vehicles. North of 1000$ for the bus and waaay too much for the other things. Highway robbery I tell ya.......